Did you know that one of the best times to cut back, divide and transplant peony bushes is in the fall? Not only can it help keep your peonies under control – it can also have them blooming bigger and better than ever next year!
Peonies are one of the earliest blooming bushes of all. Most varieties burst forth in late spring with massive, brilliant flowers that fill the landscape with color and life. But all too often, peony bushes are forgotten as fall rolls around.
After flowering in early spring, although their foliage stays green, the bush takes a backseat to other summer and fall flowering perennials. But believe it or not, although peony bushes provide all of their interest early in the season, it’s what you do with them in the fall that really sets the stage for success next year.
As you will see below, cutting back peonies in late fall once they begin to die back can play a critical role in their health and blooming potential the following spring. And, if your peony bush happens to be a bit overgrown – fall also happens to be the time to dig them up and divide them as well.
How To Cut Back, Divide & Transplant Peony Bushes In The Fall – Preparing Peonies For Winter & Next Year!
Pruning Back Peonies
Fall care of a peony bush all starts with cutting it back. Whether you plan on digging up and dividing your peony bushes this fall or not, it’s always vital to their health to cut them back before the harsh winter arrives.
Why? Because, unfortunately, if you allow foliage to remain, it opens the door to all kinds of issues for the bush. Peony bushes are highly prone to mildew, blight and other disease. And leaving the foliage up through the cool, wet fall season is simply asking for trouble.
In addition to disease, allowing the foliage to remain makes them an insect magnet. It allows the plant to become a host for all kinds of insects and small animals to overwinter. Even worse, many of the insects then use the cover to lay eggs to hatch and come back next year.
Knowing When To Prune Peonies – How To Cut Back, Divide & Transplant Peony Bushes In The Fall
But the real key to success when pruning back the foliage is to know when to cut it back. Although peonies will start to show some signs of wear and tear in late summer and early fall, it’s important to let the foliage completely die off before pruning.
This is because the plants continue to absorb energy as the leaves slowly die off. Cutting them back too early will keep the plant from storing energy in its roots for blooming next spring. And that can result in far fewer blooms for the bush – or no blooms at all in some cases!
So when do you know it’s time to cut peonies back? The general rule of thumb is to wait until all of the leaves have turned from green to a pale yellow or red. Once the green has faded away, the plant can no longer absorb energy through photosynthesis – and it’s safe to cut back the stems and leaves.
To prune back, simply take a sharp pair of shears and cut back to within a few inches of the ground. As long as the limbs and leaves show no sign of disease, they are a great addition to your compost pile.
If your peonies don’t need to be divided, all that is left is to give them a protective layer of mulch. A three to four inch layering of mulch around the base of your bush helps keep weeds out and moisture in for the roots. It also helps to keep your bushes from constantly freezing and thawing throughout the winter weather, which can damage or even freeze peonies out if it happens enough.
How To Divide & Transplant Overgrown Peony Bushes
If your peonies are a bit overgrown, fall is also the best time to dig them up and divide them. It’s important to note that peonies do not have to be divided, but doing so every four to five years can help them and you in several ways.
For starters, smaller bushes are easier to care for. Not only are they more manageable but the large flowers have an easier time staying upright. Smaller bushes also have the advantage of being less likely to succumb to mildew and mold.
Dividing in the fall is actually fairly easy and straightforward. Peony roots are fairly shallow at about 6 to 8 inches deep. To dig up, simply dig around the outside of the circumference of the plant to that depth. Then, take your shovel under the roots and carefully lift the plant out of the ground.
Next, set the plant on the ground on its side. You can gently wipe away the soil to expose the tuber of the plant. Quite often, you can separate the tubers by hand. If not, a garden knife or small saw can cut through thicker tuber roots quickly. Affiliate Product Link: Hori Hori Garden Knife
When dividing, it’s always best to keep new plant sizes similar. By keeping new plant tubers to around four to six inches, you will end up with peony bushes around two feet in diameter. Once you have your divisions, it’s time to transplant!
Transplanting Peonies In The Fall
The first key to success with peonies when transplanting is to get the new tubers in the ground the same day you dig your bushes up. Allowing the tubers to dry out can spell disaster for new plants.
To transplant, start by digging down ten to twelve inches to create your planting hole. Next, fill the bottom of the planting hole with equal amounts of compost and soil. Place the tubers in the hole so the top of the plant is barely coming through the soil.
Finish by mulching over the top with a few inches of straw or hardwood mulch. This will help protect the new planting for the upcoming winter. If the temperatures are warm enough, you may see a bit of growth pop up as the plants set. This will not harm the plant and it will go dormant as cooler weather arrives.
All that is left is wait until spring to fertilize your new peony bushes! For that, be sure to check out our article: How To Fertilize Peonies Before Spring – Get Big Blooms This Year!
Here is to taking care of your peonies this fall and to bigger and better flowering next year! Happy Gardening – Jim & Mary.
Old World Garden
Jim and Mary Competti have been writing gardening, DIY and recipe articles and books for over 15 years from their 46 acre Ohio farm. The two are frequent speakers on all things gardening and love to travel in their spare time.
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